Slide fastener



A. M. BROWN SLIDE FASTENER 2 Shoe'ts-Sheet 1 Filed llay 20, 1942 7 #:0090280 nmnw,

.-Nov. 2, 1948. A. M. BRO-WM I 5 SLIDE FASTENER Filed lay 20, 1942 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Na. 2, 194s UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE sum: ras'rannn Alexander M. Brown, Ocean Grove, N. J., asslgnor oLfortyper cent to Madison Dallas Plckens,

- New York, N. Y.

Application May 20, 1942 Serial No. 443,788

I 13 Claims. (Q1. 24-1-2051) runways to close and open the fastener and the closure embodying the aforesaid fastener.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener which provides a joint that is substantially gas-tight and water-tight while at the same time presenting a pleasing and attractive appearance.

A further object of the invention .is to provide a slide fastener which is of considerable strength, being limited only by the strength of the reinforcing material employed, and which isso arranged that lateral pull cannot disengage the interlocking runways, but serves only to increase the interlocking effect between the cooperating runways.

Still another object is to provide the continuous strip members which form the interlocking runways with an internal strengthening or reinforcing material so that the continuous strips are extremely flexible in one direction but are quite rigid in the'opposite direction, so that the strip may be bent about transverse axes but resists bending about longitudinal axes.

The material employed may be formed in large sheets with the reinforcing elements extending across the sheets in spaced relation but relatively close together. versely of the reinforcing elements so that the reinforcing elements are exposed at the edge of the strips, after which the strips may be bent to desired configuration. By this construction the reinforcing elements are presented at the edge of the strips so that they form relatively frictionfree .tracks on which the slide member engages, thereby permitting easy operation of the slide.

The material employed, furthermore, is impervious in character and is relatively thin, with the reinforcing elements so embodied that the strips are of even thicknessso that the surfaces presented are relatively smooth.

Other objects and-advantages will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the The sheets may be cut trans-' accompanying drawings which illustrate prev .ferred forms of my invention.

Referring in detail to the several drawings;

Figure l is a perspective view of the slide fastener-embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional viewv taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

"Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slide em-,

ployed to effect interlocking of the runways. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing one manner of preparing the material forming the runways.

, Fig. 7 shows another type of material that may be employed for forming the runways.

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner of preparing and cutting the sheets out of which the runways are formed.

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic transverse sectional views showing progressive steps that are performed in interlocking the runways, and

fled form of my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, one runway is indicated at l0 and its companion interlocking runway is indicated at I I.

The runway Iii is suitably attached to a continuous strip of material ii. the material bein rubber, fabric or other suitable substance which is preferably water-proof in character.

The runway II is attached to a similar contin-' present openings permitting entry of water and the like.

In order to-limit the movement of the slide or slider employed there is provided at one end of the runway ill, a stop i5, although it is understood that this is not essential.

The runways l0 and II are engaged by a suitable slide or slider it for the purpose of bringing the runways into interlocked relation, and the construction of the slide will be more fully described hereinafter.

The material employed in manufacturing the Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of a modirubber art.

3. runways I and II is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 discloses sheets I! and I8 of uncured rubber stocklor other material. Interposed between the sheets are transversely extending reinforcing elements I! which may be of thin metal, plastic or other suitable material, which is relatively rigid. The reinforcing elements I8 are spaced as illustrated. and lie in' substantially parallel relation to each other. 7 I

After the reinforcing elements have been properly positioned between the sheets I1 and IS, the whole structure is prepared and cured by means of processes which are old and well known in th As the result of the process just described a sheeteis provided which is impervious to gas and water, is relatively thin, and is substantially smooth on both faces. This material is extremely flexible when bent along lines extending transverselv of the sheet or parallel to the reinforcing elements, but is relatively rigid and resists bending force along lines extending transversely of the reinforcing elements. I

In Fig. 7 another form of material is illustrated.

although the results of employing a sheet of this type are the same as in connection with sheets manufactured after the fashion illustrated in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 7 strips of flexible material such as rubber or the like, alternate with strips 2| which are of metal, plastic or other suitable rigid material. The strips are arranged in parallel relation, after which they are pressed, vulcanized 'or otherwise caused to adhere to each other to form a continuous sheet of material which is flexible along parallel lines, the slots for so cutting the material being designated Na in Fig. 8.

As illustrated in Fig. 9. a thin, flexible strip of rubber or similar material 20 is secured to the underface of the strip I I and projects beyond one edge of the strip II as at 29 to such extent that the combined width of the runway formed by the strip II and the attached strip 28 is at least slightly greater than the distance between the channels and 21 (see Fig. 12).

The continuous strip I3 is shown in Fig. 9 as attached to the strip 28.with the strip 28 secured to the lower face of the runway II, but

various rearrangements and modifications are comprehended which will be apparent to those skilled in the fastener art.

In order to interlock the runways I0 and II, a slide or slider I8 is employed. This slide or slider is provided with an overhanging lip having an arcuate portion 3i which extends around the upper edge of the runway l0 (Fig. 4) to pre- I sent a slot 32 through which the upper leg 24 locking relation with the runway III during slid- The material as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be made into sheets of any suitable dimensions, after which it may be cut into narrow strips of the desired width with the reinforcing elements I9 extending transversely of each strip,- although it is to be understood that the reinforcing elements do not necessarily have to be precisely at right angles to the length of the strip.

After the strips of material heretofore described have been cut to suitable width, the strip III, which is formed of such material, is bent upon itself as at 22 to form diverging legs 23 and 24 presenting a channel or channel portion 25 therebetween. The leg 24 is provided with a return bend 26 which forms a second channel or channel portion 21. an open mouthed channel being defined by the legs or portions 23, 24 and 28 which includes the channel or channel portions 25 and 21 as parts thereof.

The leg 23 of the channel forming strip III is shown attached to the continuous strip I2, but the strip could, of course, be attached to other parts of the runway l 0, depending upon the manner in which the fastener is to be used. The strip I2 is preferably bonded to the channel formin strip or runway ill by vulcanization or by the use of suitable adhesive, cement, or the like.

The strip II forming the opposed runway is relatively flat and is of a width less than the distance between the channels 25 and 21. Strip II may be formed by cutting sheets of the material, transversely of the reinforcements l9, as shown,in Fig. 8, into strips II of desired width ing movement of the slider I6 in one (i. e. 0105- ing) direction.

The slide orslider I8 is also provided with a downwardly depending finger 33a (Figs. 4 and 5) which engages the strip II during sliding movement of the slider I5 and by means of which the aforesaid strip or runway II is progressively brought or forced out of engagement with the flange portion 26 of the runway I0 during sliding movement of the slider I6 in the other (i. e. opening) direction.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the'successive operation performed by the slide or slider I6 are clearly disclosed. In order to force the runway I I into the runway I0, since the runway II and overhanging edge 29 are of a greater width than the distance between the channels 25 and 21, it is obvious that the runway II must be reduced in width in order that the heel may clear the edge of the return bend 26.

As shown in Fig. 10, the heel 35 of the runway or strip II, by reason of its engagement with the depending runway engaging finger 34, has been brought or forced inwardly of the channel portion 25, the flexible lip 29 having been compressed to such anextent that the heel 35 of the runway I I may pass the return bend or flange 26.

As the slider moves along, pressure of the finger 34 on the heel 35 of the runway II is relieved, after which the compressible lip 2.9 expands to normal position, thereby forcing the heel 35 of the runway I I into the channel portion 21 and maintaining it therein, while the overhanging edge 29 occupies a position in the channel 25, as shown in Fig. 11,

In this manner the runways Ill and I I are interlocked and sincethey'are composed of material which is relatively rigid or which does not flex about lines extending longitudinally thereof (1. e. longitudinal axes), an extremely strong and durable fastener is provided.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, any force exerted in the direction of the arrows tends merely to force the heel or inner edge 35 of the strip or runway I I into more intimate engagement with the. channel or socket 21, the runway ll fulcruming about the heel 85 until the forward or outer edge of the strip it engages the leg 28 of the runway l0 through the portion 29 of 'the strip 28. Therefore, any transverse stress or strain is taken entirely by the rigid runways, so that the joint between the runways is dependent for its strength entirely upon the strength of the material from which the runways are formed. This differs from prior art structures wherein the reinforcing elements of fasteners of the non-interdigitating type must be flexed during the closing or interlocking operation, the requirements for such flexibility preventing the use of such rigid reinforcing elements are herein described which withstand crosswise strain, as explained.

It is obvious that by operating the slide or slider H3 in the opposite (i. e. opening) direction the reverse operation will take place. This is to say, the depending fingers 34 of the slider I6 engaging the inner edge or heel 35 of the runway i I moves ,the aforesaid runway ll inwardly toward the In Fig. 13 a somewhat modified form is dis closed, but the operation is substantially the same. In this illustration the compressible resilient edge portion 29 is eliminated from the run way Ii and the resilient, compressible member is placed in the channel 25. This material is indicated at 36 and may consist of a continuous strip of rubber or other suitable resilient material extending the full length of the runway Iii, which forms a yieldable seal member or gasket yieldingly urging or forcing the heel 35 of the runway il into channel 21 while also providing an effective water-tight and gas-tight seal.

By utilizing this construction it will be apparent that the transversely rigid runway it is forced into the resilient material 36 until the heel 35 clears the return bend 26 in the same manner as described in connection with the preceding figures, after which expansion of the resilient material 36 forces the heel 35 behind the return bend 26 and into interlocking engagement.

The member in may be properlytermed a channel member since the space between the channels or channel portions 25 and 21 thereof is itself a groove or channel having a mouth of less width than its upper or inner portion, or an undercut groove. The bend or flange 26 and the leg 23 may be said to form with the intermediate leg 24 a pair of spaced shoulders. Likewise the heel or inner edge portion 35 of the strip or strip member if may be properly termed a shoulder spaced inwardly of the strip or runway The runway or strip H in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 9 to 12 inclusive may be considered properly described as having a channel of variable 6 width, temporarily spread by the slider I! which thrusts the laterally incompressible strip orstrip member ll (Fig. 13) thereagainst in snapping the strip or strip member i I into the wider'portion of the channel or groove in the channel member I, or in other words beyond the constricted mouth of the channel or groove between the spaced shoulders of the member ill, or between the channels or channel portions 25 and 21 thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the broad concept is the same in all of the operations described, that is to say, the effective width of one of the members must be varied so as to permit entry of one ofthe runways into the other. the form shown in Fig. 9, the effective width of the runway H is reduced, whereas in the form dsiclosed in Fig. 13. the width of the effective runway ll remains constant, whereas the effective width of the runway in isincreased temporarily by compression of the resilient material 36.

As will readily appear from Figs. 9-13 of the drawing, the return bend 26 and the portion of the leg 23 adjacent its junction with the leg 24 form inclined internal shoulders which cooperate with the leg '24 to form an undercut groove including the channels or channel portions 25 and 21 as parts thereof. Channel 21 is disposed away from the body of the material l2 along the free edge of the runway. The undercut groove has its opening facing towards the portion 23 which has two surfaces, one of which 1 desirable to reduce the friction between the slide and the runways, particularly where rubber or similar material is employed.

' By forming the runways as described with the.

metallic, plastic or other reinforcing elements exposed along the edges of the runway that are engaged by the slide, it will be seen' that substantially a metal trackway is provided, and it is intended that the reinforcing elements be spaced sufficiently close together so that this metal trackway is substantially continuous and only relatively small intervening portions of rubber lie between the reinforcing elements. In this manner the metallic and other rigid surface presented is substantially continuous and friction is reduced to a minimum. Consequently, the fastener as described has longer life than if metal to rubber contact were provided.

It will also be clear from the preceding description that the resilient or flexible portions which assist in the action of interlocking the runways with each other, bear no relation to the strength of the fastener, because all strain applied to the fastener which would tend to separate the runways is taken by the rigid reinforcing material of which the runways are provided, whereas in prior constructions with which I am familiar, the strength of the fastener was limited by the flexible portions which are used in the opening and closing actions of the fastener.

The fastener as described may be very easily and cheaply manufactured and yet it produces a fastener of considerable strength, ease of operation, long life, together with the fact that the Patent is:

i. In a slide fastener, a plurality of continuous runways relatively inflexible transversely thereof but relatively flexible longitudinally thereof, one

\ of said runways having spaced shoulders thereon toreccive the other runway therebetween, said other runway carrying a strip of resilient mat rial of less transverse rigidity projecting beyond one edge thereof only, the combined width of said other runway and strip being greater than the distance between said shoulders, and a slider slidable on said runways for compressing said strip to reduce said combined width and permit engagement of said other runway with said shoulders.

2. In a slide fastener, a plurality of continuous runways relatively inflexible transversely thereof but relatively flexible longitudinally thereof, one of said runways having shoulders thereon for engagement with the other runway to interlock the same together, each runway comprising a strip of flexible, resilient, impervious material having spaced, substantially parallel, rigid reinforcing elements extending transversely thereof with the ends exposed at an edge of the runway so that the runways may flex in one direction but resist flexing in other directions, and a slide engaging said runways and running on the exposed edges of the reinforcing elements to vary the effective width of one of the runways topermit entrance of the other runway thereinto for engagement with the said shoulders.

3. In means for detachably connecting two members, means on one of said members forming a groove of predetermined normal width, means in said groove yieldable for increasing the width of said groove beyond said normal width, and the other member forming a strip insertible in said groove upon yielding of said yieldable means.

4. In a slide fastener, a pair of complementary runways which are relatively flexible about transverse axes and relatively inflexible about longitudinal axes, and a slider supported on said runways for sliding movement in opposite directions to couple and uncouple said runways,

one of said runways having thereon a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal shoulders forming therebetween a channel interlockingly receiving said other runway when said runways are coupled, the plane of said channel being disposed substantially parallel to the common plane ofsaid runways when coupled, and the normal effective width of said channel being less than the normal effective width of said other runway, a longitudinally extending yieldable member forming a part of said channel and progressively compressed transversely by said slider in its sliding movement in one direction to effect entrance of said other runway into said channel for interlocking engagement of said runways. 5. In a slide fastener, a pair of complementar runways relatively flexible about transverse axes and relatively inflexible about longitudinal axes, and a slider supported on said runways for sliding movement in opposite directions to couple and .they are coupled.

uncouple said runways, one of said runways having thereon a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinal shoulders forming therebetween a channel interlockingly receiving said other runway when said runways are coupled, said other runway when in said channel being disposed substantially parallel to the common plane of said runways when coupled and'being of strip like form and the normal effective width of said channel being less than the normal effective width of said other runway, said other runway having a longitudinally extending yieldable member of less transverse rigidity than said other runway forming one edge portion thereof only, said yieldable member being progressively compressed transversely by said slider in its sliding movement in one direction to reduce the effective width of the strip like runway and effect entrance thereof into said channel for interlocking engagement of said runways.

6. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein said yieldable member extends continuously along said channel and forms a gasket effecting va fluid-tight seal between said runways when they are coupled. 7

7. The structure defined in claim 5 wherein said yieldable member extends continuously along said channel and forms a gasket effecting afluid-tight seal between said runways when 8. In fastening means of the class described, a pair of runways attachable to members to be detachably connected thereby, one of said runways forming substantially an undercut groove having an internal shoulder along its free edge, the other runway comprising a strip having its inner edge substantially free of attachment to the member to which it is attached, said strip lying within said groove when the runways are engaged with the inner edge of the strip engaging said shoulder, and means located in said groove at a point spaced from said free edge when the runways are engaged for yieldingly urging said inner edge against said shoulder, said means being carried by one of said runways.

9. In fastening means of the class described, a pair of runways attachable to members to be detachably connected thereby, one of said runways including a portion adapted to be secured to one of said members and further including means connected to' such portion forming a groove having its opening facing towards the plane of the member to which such portion is attached, and having an internal shoulder along its free edge, the other runway comprising a member lying within said groove when the runways are engaged with one edge of said member engaging said shoulder, and means located in said groove when runways are engaged for yieldingly urging said edge against said shoulder, said means being carried by one of said runways.

10. In fastening means of the class described, a pair of runways attachable to members to be detachably connected thereby, one of said runways including a portion adapted to be secured to one of such members and means connected to said portion forming an undercut groove having its opening facing towards said portion and having an internal shoulder along its free edge, the other runway comprising a member lying within said groove when the runways are engaged with one edge of said member engaging said shoulder, and means located in said groove when said runways are engaged for yieldingly urging said edge against said shoulder, said means being carried by one of said runways.

11. In fastening means of the class described,

; a pair of runways attachable to members to be j detachably connected thereby, one of said run- ,ways comprising a first part having one surface adapted to be attached to one of said members and having a second opposite surface, and a second part connected along its inner edge to j said first part and having a third surface facing said second surface and forming a divergent acute angle therewith, and means along the outer edge of said second part directed towards said first part so as to form an internal shoulder along the edge of said second part, thus forming a groove, the other runway comprising a strip lying within-said groove when the runways are engaged with one edge of said strip engaging said shoulder, and means located in said groove when said runways are engaged for yieldingly urging I said edgeagainst said shoulder, said means being carried by one of said runways.

12. In fastening means of the class described, a pair of runways attachable to members to be detachably connected thereby, one of said runways forming substantially an undercut groove, the other runway comprising a strip having its inner edge substantially free of attachment to its supporting member, and means operative when said strip is disposed in the undercut groove formed by said first-named runway for yieldingly urging the free inner edge of said strip toward engagement with the other adjacent portion of said undercut groove, said last named means being supported by said strip.

13. In fastening means of the class described. a pair of runways attachable to members to be detachably connected thereby, one of said runways formingsubstantially an undercut groove, the other runway comprising a strip having its inner edge substantially free of attachment to its supporting member, and means operative when said strip is disposed in the undercut groove formed by said first-named runway for yieldingly urging the free inner edge of said strip toward engagement with the other adjacent portion of said undercut groove, said last named means being disposed in said undercut groove.

ALEXANDER M. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Kiessling et a1 Aug. 15, 1939 

